Procrastination: One Way To Cope In A High-pressure World

No matter how successful or down-and-out, people procrastinate, psychologists say.

From top executives who won't return important calls to schoolchildren who rush to complete their homework on Sunday night, people put off doing things all the time.

''We're living in a high-pressure world,'' said Chaytor Mason, a professor of human factors and psychology at the University of Southern California. ''People are busy today. They have many commitments, but they can't get to everything, so they procrastinate.''

For the most part, procrastinating isn't bad, psychologists say. It becomes a problem when the habit begins to interfere with everyday living, said Neil Fiore, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of the new book The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt Free Play (Jeremy P. Tarcher Inc.; $8.95).

''Procrastination is a mechanism for coping with the anxiety associated with starting or completing any task or decision,'' Fiore said. ''When it starts to overwhelm you, that's when you need to worry.''

For many people, getting things done just under the wire appears to be a benefit instead of a hindrance, Mason said. Their creativity seems to flow and the work gets done, he said.

''They tell me they need that adrenalin of fear of not doing the job,'' he said. ''It's the only way they can work sometimes.''

In his personal research, Mason has found this to be true among people who work on deadlines or at highly stressful jobs. He cites lawyers, writers and military personnel as especially vulnerable.

''Believe it or not, successful people procrastinate,'' he said. ''I'd say people who are exposed to competitive demands are more likely to procrastinate than people who do assembly work at a factory.''

People are discovering they can overcome procrastination, Fiore said.

''The key is lessening the fear and pain about work and increasing the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction a person can get from doing good work,'' he said.

In his book, Fiore suggests establishing a weekly calendar that schedules recreational activities first and productive work periods last. This gives people an image that their week begins with play instead of drudgery, he said.

''It gives them a sense of freedom about life and creates a subconscious urge to return to work,'' he said. ''You feel less resentful, less deprived.''